What Are the Benefits of Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is the vitamin you take in from the sun’s rays; it’s naturally produced in the skin as a response to sunlight exposure. It’s also available in a few natural and organic foods in Eau Claire, WI. This is an important vitamin for several bodily functions, including regulating calcium and phosphorus absorption, ensuring normal function of your immune system and helping sustain normal, healthy growth of teeth and bones.

Here are just a few examples of some of the primary benefits of vitamin D to encourage you to get out and get some sunshine:

• Protection against disease: There have been a variety of studies conducted with a focus on vitamin D’s ability to protect the body against certain diseases. It has been shown to reduce risk of developing heart disease (the number one killer in the United States), as well as multiple sclerosis, the flu and other flu-like illnesses and certain cancers.
• Improved bone health: Vitamin D helps to regulate good bone health in the body, as it affects the body’s ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus, two elements that are primary components of dense, strong skeletal systems and teeth.
• Improved insulin control: Vitamin D stimulates the pancreas and encourages the process of generating insulin. This ensures better regulation of your body’s blood sugar levels, which is especially important for diabetics who need all the assistance they can get in taking control of those levels.
• Improved mood: A variety of studies indicate vitamin D can help regulate a better mood. If you’ve ever suffered from seasonal affective disorder, you know just how much of a difference a bright, sunny day can make in your mood. This is because vitamin D synthesis occurs when you get direct exposure to the sun’s rays, giving your body a much-needed pick-me-up. While this should not be taken to mean that vitamin D is a clinical anti-depressant, studies show it can at least help in improving mood and affect.

Doctors have been seeing increased issues with vitamin D deficiencies over the last couple decades. Those deficiencies can result in issues such as severe bone pain, muscle pain, general weakness and fatigue, depression and difficulty walking. One study estimates approximately a third of children and adults in the United States are deficient, and that approximately 50 percent of the population is at risk for such a deficiency. This is largely due to increased indoor and sedentary lifestyles.

It’s recommended that you spend plenty of time outdoors, and that you eat foods and supplements that give you an extra vitamin D boost, including fortified milk, breads and cereals, as well as cheese (especially cheddar), yogurt, eggs and fatty fish like salmon. You can also find vitamin D supplements on the market, but always talk to your doctor first before beginning to take any sort of vitamin or supplement.

For more information about the various benefits associated with vitamin D and the steps you should take to avoid a deficiency, visit Mother Nature’s Food. We’re a provider of natural and organic foods in Eau Claire, WI, and we’d be glad to answer your questions!

Categorised in: Supplements, Vitamins